Cinch strap and backup plate for metal roof endlap joint

Abstract

An improved cinch strap and backup plate, used to form an enlap joint between two overlapping roofing panels, is disclosed. The backup plate is provided with horizontally extending shoulders which protrude outwardly from each end of the plate. One shoulder provides support for the endlap joint during its assembly, while the other shoulder provides support for later installed endlap joints. The cinch strap is configured to conform to the contour of the roofing panels. The cinch strap is provided with spines which provide structural support, and drainage channels which help to clear moisture from the roof. The cinch strap is configured so as to engage other, aligned cinch straps in a head-to-tail arrangement. The improved cinch strap and backup plate provide a structurally stronger, weatherproof endlap joint.

Having therefore fully and completely disclosed the best mode for my invention, I now claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for assembling channel-shaped roofing panels on a roof wherein each panel has a planar web portion and upstanding sidewalls configured to engage the sidewalls of laterally adjacent panels in a male/female relationship to form upstanding seam connections and wherein the lower end of a panel overlaps the upper end of a lower, abutting panel in a shingle-like manner, comprising: a channel-shaped backup plate having a length corresponding directionally to the width of such panels and configured to be positionable below said panels so that each side of said plate conforms to at least part of the inner configuration of said upstanding seams formed by said panels, the ends of said plate terminating in laterally outward extending shoulders;   a separate cinch strap configured to extend laterally across the width of said overlapping panels so as to sandwich said panels between said backup plate and said strap, one end of said strap configured to overlap a portion of said upstanding sidewall of said panel, and the opposite end of said strap configured to overlap and cover the upstanding seam connection formed by said adjacent panels, said ends of said strap defining a horizontal section of said strap between them; and   said strap having at least one longitudinally disposed reinforcing spine and at least one laterally disposed drainage channel, said strap being formed to engage the contour of the upper surface of said roofing panel.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said backup plate and said cinch strap are formed from sheet steel. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cinch strap is perforated, proximate the longitudinal centerline of said strap, to receive fastening means to fasten said strap to said backup plate and thereby sandwich said roofing panels between said strap and said plate. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said holes in said cinch strap are preformed in said strap material before said strap is formed to engage the contours of a roofing panel. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cinch strap is provided with two longitudinal support spines which perpendicularly intersect deformations formed in said strap to enable said strap to engage the contours of said roofing panel and said drainage channels proximate the center of said strap. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal support spines are formed into the lower surface of said cinch strap, said spines therefore protruding upwardly from said upper surface of said strap. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal support spines are formed only in the horizontal portion of said strap. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said holes are located between said longitudinal support grooves and are proximate the longitudinal centerline of said cinch strap. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said drainage channels formed in said cinch strap are straight and are positioned transversely through said strap, perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of said strap. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said cinch strap is provided with a plurality of said drainage channels positioned in said horizontal section of said strap. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein said shoulders are formed adjacent to the upper edge of said backup plate, said shoulders extending outwardly, horizontally from said ends of said backup plate beyond the centerline of the upstanding seams of a roofing panel. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the width of said shoulders equals approximately one-third of the width of said backup plate. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for assembling channel-shaped roofing panels on a roof wherein each panel has a planar web portion and upstanding sidewalls configured to engage the sidewalls of laterally adjacent panels in a male/female relationship to form upstanding seam connections, and wherein the lower end of a panel overlaps the upper end of a lower abutting panel in a shingle-like manner, comprising: a channel-shaped metallic backup plate, said plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the length of said plate corresponding directionally to the width of said panels, said plate being adapted so that the ends of said plate extend upward from said upper surface of said plate to conform to the inner contour of said roofing panel upstanding seams, said ends of said plate having outwardly extending horizontal shoulders to support said plate and to provide support to adjoining, later installed backup plates, said upper surface of said plate being provided with a plurality of retaining tabs to receive the end of a roofing panel, an upper edge of said plate having a vertical reinforcing surface, said plate further being provided with at least one longitudinal support groove; and   a separate metallic cinch strap to secure said roofing panels to said backup plate by sandwiching said panels between said strap and said plate, said strap being configured to extend laterally across the width of said overlapping panels, one end of said strap configured to overlap a portion of said upstanding sidewall, said strap configured at its opposite end to completely overlap and cover the upstanding seam connection formed by said adjacent panels, said strap being provided with at least one longitudinal reinforcing spine and at least one transverse drainage channel, said strap being further configured to engage the contour of the upper surface of a roofing panel, said strap being so configured so as to engage adjoining cinch straps in a head-to-tail arrangement.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said drainage channels are formed in the lower surface of said cinch strap so as to protrude upwardly from the upper surface of said cinch strap. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said longitudinal support groove is formed into said upper surface of said backup plate and protrudes downwardly from said lower surface of said backup plate. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said longitudinal support groove is located proximate said lower edge of said backup plate. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said longitudinal support groove is located in the horizontal section of said backup plate. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said retaining tabs are located proximate said upper edge of said backup plate and extend upwardly from said upper edge of said backup plate then horizontally toward said lower edge of said plate, parallel to said upper surface of said plate. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus, as recited in claim 18, wherein said tabs formed in said plate have a raised horizontal section parallel to said upper surface of said plate, said tabs being formed so that the thickness of a roofing panel may be received between said upper surface of said plate and the lower surfaces of said horizontal section of said tabs, said retaining tabs being provided in said horizontal section of said plate, said tabs connected to said backup plate only at said upper edge of said plate, and wherein said raised horizontal sections of said tabs are approximately one inch square. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said cinch strap is provided with two longitudinal reinforcing spines. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus, as recited in claim 13, wherein said vertical reinforcing surface extends downwardly one inch from said lower surface of said backup plate at said upper edge of said plate. 
     
     
       22. A method for installing roofing panels, comprising the steps of: forming a channel-shaped metallic backup plate having a length corresponding directionally to the width of such panels, said plate being formed so as to have an upper surface and a lower surface, said plate configured so that each end of said plate extends upwardly from said upper surface of said plate to conform to the inner contour of roofing panel standing seams; said ends of said plate having outwardly extending horizontal shoulders to provide support to adjoining later installed backup plates;   forming a seaparate cinch strap configured to extend laterally across the width of overlapping roofing panels to secure said roofing panels to said backup plate by sandwiching said panels between said strap and said plate, said strap configured at one end to overlap a portion of the upstanding exterior sidewall of a roofing panel, said strap configured at its opposite end to completely overlap and cover the upstanding seam formed by two adjacent roofing panels, said ends defining the middle section of said strap as the horizontal section of said strap;   placing a first roofing panel adjacent to a roofing panel that has already been installed as the lower panel in an endlap joint so that said first panel is parallel to said installed panel and a first end of said first panel is adjacent to an upper end of said installed panel, the remainder of said first panel extending along said installed panel;   positioning said backup plate adjacent to a backup plate which has already been installed so that a shoulder of said backup plate rests on top of a shoulder of the installed backup plate;   positioning said backup plate until said first end of said panel is proximate said upper edge of said plate;   placing a second roofing panel on top of said first panel so that said second panel is parallel to said first panel and said backup plate, and a first end of said second panel is located through the width of said backup plate while the remainder of said second panel extends over said upper edge of said plate opposite said lower edge of said plate in a direction opposite said lower edge;   placing said cinch strap over said second roofing panel so that said strap is parallel to said second panel and a longitudinal edge of said strap matches the edge of said second roofing panel while the remainder of the width of said strap extends toward said upper edge of said backup plate; and   fastening said cinch strap to said backup plate, thereby sandwiching said first and second roofing panels between said strap and said plate.   
     
     
       23. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said first roofing panel engages an adjacent, already installed roofing panel to form a standing seam at their juncture. 
     
     
       24. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said cinch strap is formed so as to be engageable with the external contour of a roofing panel. 
     
     
       25. A method, as recited in claim 24, wherein said cinch strap is provided with a longitudinal support spine which perpendicularly intersects deformations formed in said strap to enable said strap to engage the contours of said roofing panel, and a transverse drainage channels. 
     
     
       26. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said longitudinal support spines are formed into the lower surface of said cinch strap and protrude upwardly from said upper surface of said strap in the horizonal portion of said strap. 
     
     
       27. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said cinch strap is perforated proximate the longitudinal centerline of said strap to receive fastening means to secure said strap to said plate thereby sandwiching said roofing panels between them, said holes being located between said longitudinal reinforcing spines. 
     
     
       28. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said drainage channels formed in said cinch strap are straight and are formed transversely through said strap, perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of said strap, said drainage channels being formed in the horizontal portion of said cinch strap, which engages said roofing panel between said standing means, said channels being formed left of the transverse centerline of said strap, proximate said transverse centerline, and right of said transverse centerline of said strap. 
     
     
       29. A method, as recited in claim 22, wherein said shoulders extend outward, horizontally from said ends of said backup plate beyond the centerline of the standing seams of a roofing panel, said shoulders being located adjacent said upper edge of said backup plate, the width of said shoulders equaling approximately one-third of the width of said plate. 
     
     
       30. A cinch strap adapted for use to join the overlapping ends of a pair of channel-shaped roofing panels, comprising: a first upwardly directed, raised end surface;   a substantially planar, elongated main body portion having spaced apart longitudinal sides;   a drainage channel in said main body portion for facilitating the flow of water from one longitudinal side of said main body portion to another longitudinal side of said main body portion; and   a second raised end forming a generally inverse V-shape, said inverse V-shape comprising a raised base surface, extending upwardly from said main body portion; a first upwardly directed side surface, extending from said raised base surface; a first substantially horizontal surface, extending outwardly of said main body portion; a second upwardly directed side surface, extending upward and outwardly from said first horizonal surface; a first downwardly directed side surface, extending outwardly from said second upwardly directed side surface, the junction of said second upwardly directed side surface and said first downwardly directed side surface defining a summit; a second substantially horizontal surface, extending outwardly from said first downwardly directed side surface; and a second downwardly directed side surface, extending outwardly from said second substantially horizontal surface.